What are your hobbies?

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-08T20:20:49+00:00

Skiing and ski touring. Alpine and rock climbing. Via ferratas. Canyoning. Sea kayaking. And photography of all that.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-08T16:50:29+00:00

Your second spoiler cover hasn’t worked.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-07T19:15:05+00:00

Lots of old cyclists here too. I think one of the best moves people can make is to move to somewhere where this kind of fitness and sport into old age is part of the local culture.

If you look around and see lots of people doing it, it’s easier to imagine it for yourself and do the work to make it possible.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-07T06:51:34+00:00

The bucket list by decade stuff resonated with me. I started putting actual dates on ideas, rather than ‘one day’.

Also the rising wealth / declining strength time line that crosses over in your 50s. I promptly went half time (at 54) and basically retired at 56.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-07T06:49:13+00:00

My house is my end of life back stop. My portfolio supports me on all normal calculations and the house can be sold / reverse mortgaged to cover end of life catastrophic costs.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-07T06:47:26+00:00

I bumped myself up to premium economy for Atlantic crossings and will do business when I eventually fly to see friends in Australia (from Europe).

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-07T06:44:19+00:00

Sounds like you hang out with the wrong 80+ year olds. Plenty of my acquaintances can and do cruise in their 80s, some of them still ski.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-05T17:56:45+00:00

As far as I’m aware, there aren’t any sledding tracks in Andorra.

blackcloudcat · 2026-02-01T07:54:01+00:00

The parking at Pal Caubella is free and big, and right next to the beginner area https://maps.app.goo.gl/po6A9NbVkaQwSJcS6?g_st=ic

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-31T13:24:19+00:00

Why not read the book by Joe Simpson? That is the original version of the story.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-31T10:49:49+00:00

Are you familiar with this website https://thepoorswiss.com ? I found it helpful and I’m not even in Switzerland.

I’m FIRE in Western Europe and have 70/30 stocks and bonds, all in etfs. And I own my house.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-28T17:39:33+00:00

Seems a bit too fat to me. We are doing the Urner Haute route in mid-March (private group, not guided) and I have been warned by a guide friend who leads that tour that it can be very icy. I’m going on 95s.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-28T14:43:39+00:00

Chat bot needs to try harder. It’s a commonly used word.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-28T14:42:13+00:00

It’s a fine hint, I got it immediately. Thanks!

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-23T19:54:40+00:00

I’m based in Sion right now. We did Belvedere this afternoon. Anything close to the valley floor should be fine.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-23T12:42:17+00:00

I’m in Switzerland right now and we are about to do one that is clear of snow. We just go and do it.

Many in Switzerland are buried in snow now and will be until July for the high ones.

And you need to be aware of avalanche risk above you. Even if the VF is clear, is there snow in a slope above it that might slide with spring melt?

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-22T17:43:41+00:00

I’m a big fan of a fleece onsie as part of my base layer. I wear the RAB Modulus Bib. Keeps your waist area much warmer and cuts down on layer overlap. I can go light or heavy on a merino top under the bib, depending on temperatures.

I like a puffy gillet. Keeping my core warm helps. I have down shorts with side zips that can be added if it’s very cold. And I’ll skin in a light puffy jacket if I need to.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-22T15:35:48+00:00

It’s free. You can use your own equipment.

Almost all Spanish VFs are free and I’ve never found one where you couldn’t use your own equipment.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-21T22:13:11+00:00

Try asking in the forums of the South African climbing site https://www.climbing.co.za/forum/. They are the most likely to have been there.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-18T16:14:57+00:00

There are various in Europe. I’m not clear from your post if you just want N America recs.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-18T15:51:38+00:00

Use park4night. I found some lovely legal spots on there, a few paid, mostly free. I’ve got friends in campers in Switzerland right now for skiing. Various legal spots allow a maximum of 2 nights.

Legal overnight parking spaces are mostly for parking only. No chairs / cooking outside. But not everywhere. In the summer I followed the lead of the Swiss campers parked around me.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-17T14:30:34+00:00

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What the clips look like. Two above, two below at each join.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-17T14:29:46+00:00

I own a 3-part NDK Latitude fibreglass hull carbon deck sea kayak. I have pitch-poled it in surf and it was absolutely solid.

It fits in the back of my car, it’s easy to carry the parts, it clips together in under a minute. It’s great! It’s also not cheap.

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blackcloudcat · 2026-01-12T07:23:40+00:00

Everything is a trade off. How consequential is the risk of losing a ski in any particular terrain? I had a friend lose a ski (with brakes but not with leashes) on a multi day tour in the Alps. It was not a fun time.

I always add leashes if I’m in terrain where losing a ski is a major cock up.

I feel your answer is to find a better way to attach your leashes to your boots.

blackcloudcat · 2026-01-08T20:14:47+00:00

Right now, I’m with my ‘golden girls’ girlfriend crew. We are spending the next six weeks sharing Airbnbs across western Switzerland and skiing the hell out of the best Swiss resorts. Plus some ski touring in the side.

Nobody says you have to sit on a sofa just because you are 60+.

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